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Also looks like we are readying a move for Toni Kroos from Germany.
The transfer window opened this morning, so expect tons of news and rumors. Will keep y'all posted. For those who don't know, the transfer window is two months now and one in January. It makes it legal for teams to try to buy players from other teams.
I would be beyond shocked if Real Madrid dropped Di Maria, one of their best players last year and someone who has already proven himself at that level (and is himself having a fantastic World Cup), for a guy who just jumped onto the scene.
The price would also be ridiculous for Monaco, they would end up making hardly anything.
I would feel the same except we did the same with ozil. We still won two trophies but we missed him. I really hope we learned our lesson from it tho and find some young guys we can offload to keep Di Maria and get James.Quote:
Originally Posted by smootness
Would definitely expect either Benzema or Morata to leave if we go for Falcao tho. Teams like Real Madrid don't need the transfer market to make money
I'm not talking about Real making money on the James deal, I'm talking about Monaco. They just signed him for almost as much as they're going to sell him for, and they're not going to reap the benefits of having him first? I just don't buy that.
They have come into a huuuuge amount of cash as well with new owners, so it won't hurt them much. He did get them into the CL this season, so he did give some benefits. I think they realize they can get a few very good players for what Real will pay them, and if they don't sell he will bitch and moan until they do bc he wants to be in Madrid. That's the power of a team like Real Madrid. Everyone on earth that isn't born in Barcelona wants to play for themQuote:
Originally Posted by smootness
Arsenal all the way! How can you not love a team that has a cannon on its logo? Plus the red/white home kit is niiiicccceeee. The away kit is ehhhhhh. That's just my opinion though. They are changing to Puma this year and are set to reveal the new kit soon after being with Nike for several years. Not a bad team to be a fan of
Thought I'd chime in and say between the WC games and you gents' discussion of the EPL, I'm on the verge of giving soccer a shot as well. Full disclosure, I actually watched parts of the last UEFA tournament and enjoyed it. Like Cadaver, I'd probably start with the EPL. Based on Dudy's brief team bios, I'd probably lean towards Chelsea or Man City. Man City if for no other reason than to irritate the hell out of the legions of Man U fans, including one of my buddies locally.
Haha that's as good a reason to choose a team as any I guessQuote:
Originally Posted by War Machine Dawg
I root for Everton because of Howard and they've had Donovan on loan before. In MLS, I root for the Timbers because of the way they sing the National Anthem. I'd kill for an MLS team to come to Memphis or Jackson to have a regional team to root for.
Timbers are cool. I like their goal celebration. Cut a disc from a log on the pitch and pass the disc up the crowd.Quote:
Originally Posted by beerfarley
I also like the Sounders. They are a rowdy bunch.
I like the SoundersQuote:
Originally Posted by TheRef
Pick you a top team to get the full Europe wide experience but also try to follow a mid tier team. Gives you more of a cultural feel.
Example. Follow Arsenal and Sunderland.
Best bet might be Nashville, but I'm like you- I'd love to have a team nearby.Quote:
Originally Posted by beerfarley
Atlanta is getting their team in 2017 I believe, so that'll be a bit better. Hopefully, they can have success and we see a team move to Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans.
Also, keep your eyes on NYCFC with David Villa and Orlando City who just signed Kaka over the weekend. The MLS is booming unlike anything ever seen in the sports world
I think if one comes in the area, it'll go to NOLA after AtlantaQuote:
Originally Posted by DudyDawg
Should the MLS hold off on expanding to allow for higher concentration of talent among the current teams. I mean their plan to have 24 teams seems high for soccer even if its low compared to other American professional sports. Do we ever implement the relegation system? Are we currently part of the transfer/loan process that goes on in Europe? I know they used to have a mls draft... That's unusual right other clubs never draft.
I think that 24 will be where the MLS stops, but that soccer will expand still here. I think once 24 is reached, we will continue to expand the NASL (North American Soccer League) to 24 as well, and after that we will see relegation/promotion. However, thats a slow process and you won't see it for ten years or so.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pioneer Dawg
As far as transfers, yes, all of FIFA teams run on the same windows. July-end August and then again the month of January. So our rules are the same as far as transferring players.
Also, yes, we have a draft, but that is bc in Europe they have youth academies that the players' rights are team owned, so by the time they get old enough they are already under contract. Our draft is so that college players can graduate and get under contract from MLS teams.
Will we eventually move away from this? I mean soccer players often are very good much earlier than college age right?Quote:
Originally Posted by DudyDawg
They are, but I'm not sure if we will move away from that, maybe just amend it. We need to make it where more players can sign easily right out of HS with MLS or NASL leagues to speed up development. Luckily there isn't a rule like in College baseball/football/bball about it that I know of forcing players to go to college, so it makes it easier for young kids to come out of HS, but more changes need to happen. As of right now, we have youth academies here, but they are more like select soccer in that they just play in tournaments and are used for development. The teams that own the academies do not own the players' rights, so they can't immediately have them once they are old enough and they can't sell them.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pioneer Dawg
Another difference in our academies and european ones is that they send these kids to school as well. Look at Findlay prep in hs basketball. Its similar in that they are basically a boarding school that the kids live at and focus on soccer, the only difference is a pro team owns it. I think we need to make a change where MLS teams that own an academy also owns their players' rights.
I hope we move away from the draft, but I don't see it happening soon because our college programs are starting to improve a lot with the improvement in coaching, and the draft makes it easier for MLS teams to get their hands on those kids. Cancels out a bidding process so to speak that would make it hard for MLS teams to buy bigger names. It's to save money